making most of AI bonuses...
 

High bonus gives AI five times more resources, research, inteligence and construction rate. Yet, AI does not perform much better than with say, low bonus. I always wondered why is it and I think I finally found the way to make AI to take full advantage of its bonuses.

There is a line in AI_settings.txt:
"Maximum Maintenance Percent of Revenue".
Usually it is between 80% to 98 % Obviously, it works as a sensible precaution against AI bankroting itself. BUT, AI does not "know" that it has bonus ! In calculating whether to build a new ship, it uses unmodified income, one that is displayed in empire revenues window. Thus, at high bonus, AI has full coffins but still refuses to build more ships than it would build without any bonus http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

IIRC, this problem has been discussed before but apparently it was not fixed by MM (I play latest Gold patch). However, I think it can be solved by setting "Maximum Maintenance Percent of Revenue" to 200% or even higher value ! When I did it, AI start to build many more ships up to maintanance cost much higher than displayed income. Of course it was still in plus territory thanks to 5X bonus.

Obviously, modding AI this way renders it unsuitable to "non-bonus" game but heck, who ever plays that way http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

One more thing, changing AI settings has no effect on already existing .emp files. They should be generated again after this.

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

thats an interesting idea! hmm... well setup organic race could now realy *SWARM*.

I'll be sure to use this in my next game. How much are "medium" bonuses? im not used to Hard

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

That is an excellent idea oleg.

Rollo

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

I'd try this idea out if I still actually played against AIs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Low 2X
Medium 3X
High 5X

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

This whole problem is fixed with the next patch. The AI will now use all the resources and the bonus. Ready yourself! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: making most of AI bonuses...
 

Yeah, I was about to mention that. I noticed that when one of the beta testers released what has been fixed in the newest betas. And that was one of the improvments I can't wait for. (I play against the AI while I wait for PBW game turns to come in)